Then and Now: 13th century Grade II listed doorway in garden wall of Grantham House was relocated from another building in town

The 13th century Grade II listed doorway in the wall to the garden of Grantham House, was relocated from another building in town, writes Ruth Crook of Grantham Civic Society.

It may now be in the vicinity of a large building called Nostredamehall which was between Grantham House and East Street.

Nostredamehall was mentioned in two Peterborough Abbey rentals of 1346 and 1404. In the latter Ralph Brown, a J.P. was the tenant.

The Cust family estates and rental records refer to the repositioning of the doorway in the 19th century. At eye level are two eroded heads, which appear to be of a man and woman, probably representing a king and queen.

In 1884 excavations were in progress in the garden at the back of Grantham House,to lay new drains. Several feet below the ground a skeleton was found. It was unknown when the body was buried.

The skeleton was reburied in consecrated ground in St Wulfram’s churchyard